History of Southern Montana - Chapters 17-23



CHAPTER XVII.
INCIDENTS OF BEAVERHEAD COUNTY. 

John F. Bishop and Dick Reynolds brought in the first stock sheep -- 
landed in Bannack, November 7th, 1869. They were driven from The Dalles, 
Oregon -- 800 miles. Col. Charles Broadwater bought their wool for 19 
cents. No good shearers in the country those days. 

First County School Superintendent: J. D. Douglas was appointed School 
Superintendent, September 80th, 1867. Assessor: John B. Miller appointed 
March 15th, 1865; allowed $12.00 per day for services. 

Sheriff: E. Smith Ball was first Sheriff, and C. M. Kingsbury second, 
after the organization. 

County Attorney: E. T. Phelps, first Prosecuting Attorney, as per acct. 
paid by county commissioners, March 16th, 1866. 

In the winter of 1862 and 1863, Neil Howie and Jack Carroll found quartz 
in Argenta, but they did not go back. 

A Promissory Note. 

On January 19th, 1864, Cyrus Skinner and Company gave the following note 
to George Chrisman & Co., to-wit: 

On or before the first day of April, A. D. 1864, we jointly and severally 
promise to pay to George Chrisman, or order, Three Hundred Thirty-seven 
and 63/100 Dollars, in good, clean gulch gold, at current rates, without 
discount or defalcation, with interest at the rate of 10 per cent per 
month, for value received. 

SKINNER & LUTZI. 

This carried as security the building just west of the Goodrich House. 
(See illustration.) 

One of the first trials for ownership was recorded as follows: Called 
meeting Saturday, October 20th, 1862, wherein Joseph Clark was plaintiff 
and Porter was the defendant. Trial for right of ownership to claim No. 6, 
above discovery, occupied by Areighi and Harby. Division being called for, 
plaintiff received 40; defendant 25. Case decided for plaintiff. 

John Crits, the man who came west with the father of the author, claimed 
Lot No. 3, West Side of First Cross street in Bannack, November 25th, 
1862. John was killed in Virginia City the next year by a cave in his 
mine. 

Miners' Meetings. 

Report of Committee on Arbitration. Independent District, March 19, 1863. 

We, the committee, agree to decide that the disputed ground between C. M. 
Davis and Tood, McCable & Co., be equally divided, and that the lines be 
measured and run from Discovery on the front and back ends of claims, down 
to the claims to make them parallel with discovery. 

J. B. SPENCER. D. K. BUTLER. JOHN FERGUSON. 

Recorded March 20th, 1863. 

M. H. LOTT, Recorder. 

At a meeting held on Jimmie's Bar, Independent District, March 12th, 1863, 
we find the following: 

Sec. 21. "Resolved that no lawyer, counsellor or attorney, shall be 
allowed to practice, plead or act in the capacity of an attorney before 
the court in investigating a dispute in this district." 

Toll Bridge. 

Know all men by these presents, that we, Lewis D. Irvin, Fred Burr and 
James Minesinger have claimed, staked and pre-empted, for the purpose of 
building a bridge across the Big Hole River, at the present crossing of 
said river, to Deer Lodge Valley, from Grasshopper Creek. The said bridge 
will be completed in good t!me for travel. Taken October 18th, 1862. 
(Afterward Brown's bridge.) 

On January 28th, 1863, Henry Eagan, Barney Hughes, George Orr, R. McLeod, 
Lewis Simmons and William Sweeney, sold their claims to Butz and Peabody, 
for each claim -- $250.00. Most of these men were of the Fairweather 
party. I do not know why McLeod did not go with them. The sale was made to 
give them funds for out-fitting for the Yellowstone trip. 

Settling a Partnership Quarrel. 

Whereas, Gilbert Durand and Joseph Verger Suprenant, both of Bannack City, 
have been formerly partners, and a difference has arisen about the 
settlement of affairs, and the disposal of partnership property -- they 
and each of them hereby agree that the entire matter shall be referred to 
three referees. E. R. Purple, chosen by Gilbert Durand; P. C. Wood chosen 
by J. V. Suprenant, and a third to be chosen by the other two. All the 
business matters of said firm to be submitted to said referees, for final 
settlement, and also the disposal of Company property, to be decided fully 
by them. And we bind ourselves, each for himself, to abide by and carry 
out the decision of said referees, fully in all matters, both as regards 
partnership and present business, so as to make and conclude a full and 
entire settlement of all matters between them in any and every way. Signed 
this 2nd day of April, 1863. 

JOSEPH VESSER RUPRENANT,
GILBERT DURAND. His (X) Mark. 

Witness: H. P. A. SMITH. 

Under the agreement, we have chosen C. M. Davis as third referee in matter 
within mentioned. 

E. R. PURPLE
P. C. WOOD. 

Recorded April 4, 1863. 

Findings Were as Follows. 

The undersigned arbitrators, in the matter of difference between Gilbert 
Durand and J. V. Suprenant, find and award as follows, to-wit: 

That the said co-partnership property, now on hand, amounts to $1,871.38. 
That the net receipts of the co-partnership, since its existence, is 
$744.45. The value of outstanding credits, $50.00. That J. V. Suprenant's 
indebtedness to Gilbert Durand is $1,141.55, and we hereby award to 
Gilbert Durand, the entire property of the co-partnership, of whatever 
name and description, together with the whole outstanding credits of the 
co-partnership, and we find that J. V. Suprenant is indebted to Gilbert 
Durand in the sum of Thirty-three 66/100 Dollars, for which amount we 
judgment against said J. V. Suprenant and in favor of said Gilbert Durand. 

E. R. PURPLE.
P. C. WOOD.
C. M. DAVIS. 

April 4, 1863. 

Martin Barrett relates the following, to-wit: That fellow Durand was 
called a tough citizen, but he treated me mighty well. I bought a wagon 
from him, for which I was to pay $125.00. I gave him my sack, and he 
weighed out what I supposed was $125.00. When I got home, I weighed. my 
dust, and found it $150.00 short. I returned to Bannack, and called 
Durand's attention to it, and he gave me back $150.00. 

Mrs. Martin Barrett and Mrs. Philip H. Poindexter planted the first 
dandelions in Montana, the spring of 1868. 

Mrs. Barrett tells that her first wash day on the ranch was a surprise to 
her. The boys, Joe and Mart, had not taken very kindly to the wash tub, so 
had accumulated a great heap of soiled material, which they had thrown 
under the bunk. Her surprise was the finding of $1,200.00 that had been 
placed there for safe keeping. 

First White Child Born. 

The first white child born in Bannack was born in December, 1862, to the 
wife of B. B. Burchett. His father, being a southern sympathizer, named 
him Jefferson Davis; but as the fortunes of war were against Jeff he 
changed the boy's name two and one-half years later to Thomas Jefferson. 

This was from Edwin R. Purple to Col. Sanders. He had sent, in 1875, a 
list of the people in Bannack prior to January 1, 1862. 

Women in Bannack, 

Arnold, Mrs. W. S.; Ball, Mrs. Smith; Biddle, Mrs. Dr.; Burchett, Mrs. B. 
B.; Burchett, Miss Mary; Bennett, widow and young daughter; Buckner, Mrs. 
Hank; Burchett, Miss Sallie; Brown, widow; Caldwell, Mrs. Thos.; Castner, 
Mrs. J. M.; Carroll, Mrs.; Caven, Mrs. J. B.; Dalton, Mrs.; Dalton, Miss; 
Donnelly, Miss Mary; Dalton, Miss Matilda; Davenport, Mrs. L. W.; Durgan, 
Widow Catherine; Hewins, Widow; Harby, Mrs. James; Kuster, Mrs. G.; Le 
Graw, Mrs. Frank (the Countess); Meredith, Mrs.; Peabody, Mrs. Susan; Roy, 
Mrs. Frank; Short, Mrs.; Tilley, Mrs.; Tyler, Mrs. H. T.; Waddams, Mrs. 
Wilson; Waddams, Miss Sarah; Zoller, Mrs. Henry; Zoller, Miss Emma. 

At the Big Hole Bridge. 

Burr, Fred; Coulan, James; Erwin, Louis D.; Minesinger, Jas. M. 

The Big Hole, or Brown's Bridge, was built in the winter of 1862-3. 

Scholars of First School in Bannack -- 1863. 

Emma Zoller, Emma Cutler, Susan Burchett, Mary Teeters, Charles Van Camp, 
J. Edward Watson, Wright Prescott Edgerton, Matilda French, Wm. Jones, 
Henry French, Delia Cutler, George Burchett, Geo. Teeters, Jennie Bennett, 
Euphemia Van Camp, James U. Sanders, Mollie Dye, Margaret French, Pauline 
Edgerton, George French. 

On October 19th, 1862, J. H. Morley, Mandeville Pitcher, Jule Morley got 
into their cabin. This is the first one we can find in the history of 
Bannack. 

W. H. Bell was the first person to die in Bannack, November 2nd, 1862. 
Typhoid fever. Buried by the Masons. (See Langford.) 

November 21st placer mines were discovered at Argenta. No good. 

Morley speaks of cutting hay on the Grasshopper for his oxen, on December 
9, 1862. 

On December 20th Mandeville and Morley run a level for the Painter Creek 
ditch and found plenty fall. This was afterwards built by Smith & Graeter. 

On Sunday, December 21st, a miners' meeting, called to pass the odious 
code of civil laws gotten up for benefit of a few pettyfoggers, but they 
were rejected by a two-thirds majority to adjourn until spring. 

On December 22 about 20 men met in Morley's cabin to organize a town 
association to operate at Three Forks. Morley was elected chairman. 
Started for Three Forks, December 28th, 1862. 

January 6th surveyed a townsite one mile below mouth of Gallatin River. 

January 14th, 1863, Plummer shot Jack Cleveland. 



CHAPTER XVIII.
THE GREY HORSE.
 
I came to Montana in 1863, and, with Joseph Shineberger, located land at 
the crossing of Horse Prairie. 

Sometime in the early part of January, 1864, I happened to be in Bannack 
and on the street noticed a dark, swarthy featured man, about 40 years 
old, riding a buckskin horse. I was riding an excellent grey gelding, 
famed for his speed and endurance. The party rode up and desired to make a 
trade. I could not consider anything of the kind, as good saddle horses 
were the only means for joy riders those days, and as mine was a good one 
I could see no reason for a swap. To give you an idea how good he was, I 
will say that I rode him from Virginia to Bannack, 75 miles, in six hours. 

I was taking horses in and out of Bannack, as we were running a horse 
herd, almost every day. Coming in the next day I met Tom Pitt, who told me 
that he had bought a buckskin horse and that the fellow had taken his 
saddle on his back and started toward Horse Prairie, probably for Grey 
John. I found that it was an easy matter to track the fellow, as there was 
four inches of snow. I was mighty glad, when I got home, to find that Dave 
Melten, who stayed with me that winter, had put the horse in the stable. 
There was no door, only a log chain stretched across to keep stock in, as 
lumber was $100 per thousand. The next morning it was cold! Forty below 
zero! when we started toward the willows to find the horse thief. We found 
his camp, saddle and blankets, but no man. We sent a hired man on top of a 
hill close by to watch. Shortly after the party came to the foot of the 
hill and wanted the man to come down and talk to him. Nothing doing. So 
the fellow came to camp, where we were waiting, and said he had lost his 
horse, said he could have killed us if he had wanted to, but only wanted a 
horse so he could get out of the country. 

I told him I had tracked him from Bannack and would give him one hour to 
leave the creek. If I had known who he was I do not believe I would have 
been so brave. 

I had a sore-back mule, not much good, which I traded for everything he 
had, saddle, bridle, blankets, etc., and a forty-five Colt's revolver. He 
did not want to part with the gun, at that time, but I was boss. He owed 
me $25 on the trade and said he would be back in a few days and pay me. 
Not long after this Neil Howie came to my ranch with this fellow and 
stayed all night. (To be exact it was on January 8th.) Neil told me the 
man was Dutch John, and that he had overtaken him on the Snake River and 
would take him to Bannack. John told me to come to Bannack and he would 
pay me. For some reason I did not go in until the 12th and found out that 
I was too late to get my money. In a partly built frame house I found John 
still hanging to a joist with his feet about two feet from the floor, and 
in the same room was Buck Stinson and Henry Plummer. John had been shot in 
one shoulder some time before that and the curious would take hold of him 
and swing him around to see the bullet hole. 

I kept the grey horse for some time and rode him with much pleasure, but 
in some way he got the mountain fever and became thin. I tried to sell him 
to the boys on the ranch for $10. No one wanted him. One spring he got fat 
and I made up my mind to get rid of him. Wes Travis was a noted horseman, 
in those days, and had a large stable in Helena. I led John over there, 
behind a wagon and put up with Wes. He had heard of the horse and told me 
that he would give as much as any one else. He told me, however, to go and 
see a certain party and find out what he would give. I found the man and 
he said $150. I went back to Wes and told him and he said: "No use, Mart. 
I wouldn't give you anything for him. He's had the mountain fever and will 
never be any good." It seems that D. B. Mason, of our county, happened to 
be in Travis' stable when I rode the horse out and he put Wes wise. Well, 
I couldn't sell him and so I started back for Horse Prairie. Stayed all 
night at Boulder, and when I went to the stable next morning found the old 
fellow dead. That was the end of Grey John, one of the most beautiful 
pieces of horse flesh I ever saw, and one that has become famous in 
Montana history.



CHAPTER XIX. 
FIRST MEETING OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN MONTANA. 

Records of Board of County Commissioners of Beaverhead County, Idaho 
Territory. 

April 4th. The Commissioners apointed J. M. Galloway, Justice of Peace in 
and for the County of Beaverhead by authority vested in said Commissioners 
to fill vacancy. 

AMOS W. HALL, Clerk. 

First meeting of County Comimssioners for Beaverhead County held at 
Bannack City, Monday, April 4th, 1864. 

Said Committee composed of the following named: George Chrisman, A. J. 
Smith and Elijah Moore. 

Geo. Chrisman was elected chairman of said committee of Board of County 
Commissioners. 

Matters of renting building for the purpose of Justice and Probate Court 
and various County offices; and a building was rented of Andy Lutzi at a 
rent of $125.00 per month, payable in the orders of the County of 
Beaverhead. 

The following list of fees was adopted by the Board. 

Sheriff's Fees: 

For serving any writ or notice not including of Subpoenas,
for the first person served $2.00
For each additional person 1.00
For each copy of such writ or notice when required for each
one hundred words 3.00
Each commitment to prison 2.00
Attending before a Judge or Court when required. not at a
regular term of Court of his county for each day beside 6.00
Mileage one way per mile .75
Copy of any paper required by law for each 100 words .80
Serving and returning Subpoena for each person .50
Calling a Jury in each case .50
Summoning a grand or petit jury for each panel, including
mileage to be paid out of the County Treasury 10.00
Selling land or other property on execution or order of sale,
percentage on one hundred dollars or less 5%
Over $1,000, or less than $3,000 3%
Over $3,000, and less than $10,000 2%
Over $10,000, and less than $15,000 1%
Executing a deed for land with costs of stamps and ac knowledgment 2.00
For making inventory of property attached or levied upon,
per day 10.00
For each returned not served .25
For making arrest 2.00


Recorder's Fees. 

For recording pre-emption mining claims 1.00
For recording deed per folio .30
After the first folio and for the first folio 2.00 

A meeting of the County Commissioners of Beaverhead County was held April 
20th, 1864, George Chrisman, in the Chair. The matter of a bridge across 
Grasshopper Creek, near the residence of Judge Edgerton, in the town of 
Bannack, was considered, and action taken toward issuing sealed proposals 
for bids for the construction of the same. Specifications for the bridge 
as follows: 

Four stringers that will square nine inches, with a framed and braced vent 
under the middle. The west end to be cribbed up, two feet above the 
present bank. The east end to rest upon a sill, properly and firmly 
embedded in the bank. The bridge to be covered with poles, hewed square 
four inches thick, with pole on each end of the top of bridge that will 
square six inches. Each pole used in covering the bridge to be firmly 
pinned at each end. Also, the poles on each end of the bridge to be firmly 
secured. Said bridge to be 12 feet wide in the clear. The timber to be 
used in construction of the vent under the middle of the bridge to be of a 
size that will square ten inches. The road to be properly leveled at the 
east end, and properly graded and filled up at the west end of the bridge, 
by the party contracting to build the same. 

It is ordered by the County Commissioners of Beaverhead county, by the 
power vested in them, by act of the Legislature of this Territory, that 
the road running from the upper extremity of the Town of Bannack, to the 
lower or eastern portion known as Marysville, be declared a county road, 
and protected as such for the public benefit. 

A resolution was passed by this board to purchase the jail built by the 
city council of Bannack City, for the sum of $500 in scrip, of the County 
of Beaverhead, for the use of said county, and the scrip ordered to be 
issued for same. 

May 19th, at this date, the building rented of Andy Lutzi, was given up by 
the Commissioners of Beaverhead County, on the ground that the rent was 
too high. 

April 26, Articles of Agreement entered into between C. O. Trask and the 
County Commissioners of Beaverhead County, as follows: Said Trask agrees 
to grade a road commencing at the hill near Estes Feed Stable, running up 
and near the creek to the top of the bank above the upper bridge; said 
road to be seven feet wide, solid ground, and the upper bank grade to be 
40%. Also to leave road from the first bank on the south, and west side of 
upper bridge, with side logs, and to make a good road in the bank from the 
upper bridge to the dug road, the whole to be done in good order subject 
to inspection by the Board of County Commissioners for which we, the 
Commissioners, agree to give him twelve hundred dollars in county scrip; 
work to be completed on or before the 20th day of May, 1864. 

May 15th. The above road was examined by the Board of County 
Commissioners, and county scrip ordered issued to C. O. Trask, for 
building solid road. Amount of scrip issued May 1st, 1864, ($1,200.00) 
Twelve Hundred Dollars. 

AMOS W. HALL, Clerk.


A special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners according to 
notice, was held at this date. George Chrisman in the chair. 

The usual bond was presented to the Board of County Commissioners, from J. 
M. Galloway, acting Justice of the Peace, and approved. 

Action was taken by the Board with reference to the amount of bonds 
received of Henry Zoller, Treasurer of Beaverhead County, and said amount 
was fixed at the sum of Four Thousand Dollars. 

These were the first meetings of County Commissioners in Montana. They 
simply are recorded to give the curious facts, from a historic standpoint. 
If they are of interest to one person, I will feel satisfied. 

One fact in history is worth much more than pages of stuff that is a 
matter of hearsay. 

Governor Edgerton. 

First Governor of montana.
Born in Cazenovia, N. Y., August, 1818.
He was a frail child and for some time his life was despaired of and his 
grave clothes were made ready. His father died when Le was six years old, 
leaving his mother with six children to care for. 

In those days there were few occupations open to women. She worked night 
and day over her loom and with her needle to keep her flock together. At 
last she came to the end of human endurance and her boys, one by one, were 
forced to leave home. At length it was Sidney's turn, and. the eight-year-
old boy set forth to match his strength against the world. He started out 
manfully enough, but his heart failed him before he had gone far and he 
turned to look back to his home. There in the doorway stood. his mother 
watching him, with a brave smile on her lips. With an answering smile the 
little fellow faced about and went on his way reassured. 

There followed years of hardship. He attended district school, where he 
worked tor board and tuition. Later, at the academy at Lima, N. Y., where 
his cousin, Prof. Seager, was instructor. Books were not plenty. He read 
the Bible, Pilgrim's Progress end Pope 's Iliad. 

In 1844 he went to Alkron, Ohio, where he entered the law office of Rufus 
P. Spalding, as a law student, although all the money he had was three 
dollars. 

That winter he taught the academy at Tallmadge, Ohio, following spring he 
went to Cincinnati, where he studied at the law school for a year. He 
began the practice of law at Akron, in 1846. He married Mary Wright in 
l849. May 31st, 1864. 

He was elected Prosecuting Attorney on the Free Soil ticket in 1852, and 
in 1856 was one of the members of the convention which formed the 
Republican party. The same year he was nominated for Probate Judge but 
declined the nomination. He was elected as representative to Congress in 
1858. 

He tried to get to Harper's Ferry to see John Brown at the request of 
Brown'a brother and son, in order to arrange some business matters, but 
was stopped by the soldiers. 

In 1863 was appointed Chief Justice of Idaho, and was expected to go to 
Lewiston, the capital. 

Left Akron on June 1st, 1863, accompanied by his family, his nephew, Ex-
Senator Wilbur Y. Sanders, and family, and two or three gentlemen who 
wished to seek their fortunes in the West. 

Outfitted at Omaha. Unyoked their oxen on September 17, 1863, on Yankee 
Flat, Bannack. 

An Incident. 

Shortly after arriving in Bannack the Judge strolled down Main street to 
see the town. Coming to a building where Miners' court was in progress he 
went in. 

The Judge, seeing Edgerton was a stranger, invited him to sit by him. The 
trial of the case proceeded, but not for long, when it was interrupted by 
the suggestion of someone present that it was time liquid refreshments 
should be served. The Judge and everyone present approving of the 
suggestion, an old darkey was dispatched to a neighboring saloon for 
whiskey. On his return the court took a recess and a drink, several of 
them in fact. 

At a meeting of the citizens of Virginia and Bannack, some months later, 
Judge Edgerton was selected to go to Washington to secure a division of 
the Territory. He took a lot of gold with him as an exhibit. 

Was appointed Governor of the new territory in 1864. 

Went East in 1865 in the interests of Montana. heft Bannack in September 
and made the trip back to the States with a mule team. 

Took up his residence again at Akron where he died on the 19th day of 
July, 1900. 

Judge W. Y. Pemberton says that Sidney Edgerton was a very bitter 
partisan, and scored his opponent while on the stump, but that he was an 
exceedingly honorable gentleman and one who would fight for the right, as 
he saw it, and was generous enough to give due credit to those who did not 
believe as he did. 

First Idaho Legislature. 

First Idaho Legislature convened December 7th, 1863. 

Council from what is now Montana -- A. J. Edwards, Wm. Rheem, Horace 
Joseph Tuffs and H. C. Miller. Rode Horseback; came back via San 
Francisco. 

Election October 31st, 1863; $4.00 per diem during attendance at sessions 
thereof. Greenbacks were 50 cents on the $1.00. Meals $1.00 to $1.25 in 
gold. Many brought their blankets and slept where they could. 

First Legislature. 

The first Legislative Assembly of Montana convened at noon, Monday, 
December 12th, 1864. 

Council called to order by Judge L. P. Williston. 

House called to order by the Governor, who informed the members that it 
was necessary that they take the oath of allegiance to the United States. 
The iron-clad oath went down with the council, with but little delay or 
grumbling. In the House, however, the case was different. Mayhew, 
McCormack and Bell, each had his say. An estray from the council, slightly 
spiritously obstructed, got into the wrong pew; had suggestions to make, 
was called to order by McCormack; retorted by accusing McCormack of being 
ambitious of the Speaker's chair and finally subsided. 

The Governor was not only imperturbable, he hinted to the gentlemen in a 
mild way the anarchy that would follow if the Assembly should fail to take 
the necessary preliminary step to organization. This did not move them. 
Then there was the most distant insinuation that the law allowed no one to 
be paid who did not swear allegiance to the government that paid them. 
This touched the Madison County delegation in a tender place, and with 
such wry faces as a patient makes who takes distasteful purgatives, and 
such contortions as one would make after over-eating turkey-buzzards, they 
swallowed the "iron-clad" without mental reservation or evasion. 

This done, temporary organization followed without difficulty, Judge Anson 
S. Potter, being elected temporary president of the Council, and Mr. Geo. 
Detwiler temporary speaker of the House. 

Rogers of the House dictated an oath which he said he could take and not 
turn his stomach, even if it did trouble his digestion. This "iron-clad 
oath" was not only in the way of Rogers, but Pemberton did not think it 
would agree with his stomach, and, like the sensible man he usually is, 
refused to compromise his friends by accepting one of the chief 
clerkships. Rogers resigned. 

President of the Council was R. Lawrence. Speaker, George Detwiler. 

Governor White. 

It is said that he was the direct descendant of P. White, the first child 
born in Massachusetts after the landing of the Pilgrims. 

He was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, December 3rd, 
1838. 

Attended Pearce Academy of Middleburg. 

As a boy he was independent. 

I have been told that he made up his mind to leave home at the age of 
sixteen without the consent of his parents. That he could see, some place 
in the future, the rosy side of a cloud, then, of his mind, dark; that he 
could make, without assistance from his father, a success, must have been 
the idea that led him to take advantage of the first ship that could lead 
him into new pastures and into strange lands. 

So the old ship Kathay took on board the boy who was ambitious for 
adventures. He went to Sidney, Australia, for his first experience, and 
the second trip took him to San Francisco in 1856. 

Too much excitement in that place for a boy like White, so he quit salt 
water and went to fruit farming. He studied law while caring for the 
fruit. 

He left California in 1866, and went to Malad, Idaho, where he was 
admitted to the bar in 1868. 

Was elected on the Anti-Mormon ticket, clerk and recorder of Oneida 
county. One of his first ventures was the manufacture of salt secured from 
Salt Springs located in the mountains 100 miles north. The salt found sale 
in the mines in Montana at a good price for years, or until the railroad 
was constructed. The Governor followed the railroad to Montana, and was 
one of the incorporators of Dillon townsite. 

He became the first mayor. In the early days of Dillon, Sebree, Ferris and 
White were factors. They started the bank since known as the First 
National. The charge of the institution was placed with White, and he has 
no doubt conducted it in a peculiar manner. He studied men and conditions 
and loaned men money according to his own idea as to their ability to pay. 
No mortgage was taken, and no man was on your note. The old gentleman was 
very inquisitive as to your intentions and found out from every source 
possible the manner in which you conducted your business. If you played a 
little poker, drank a little too much whiskey at times, he knew it, but if 
you were playing fair with him he said nothing about it to you, though he 
might say something about it to your neighbor, from whom, probably, he had 
become acquainted with those very shortcomings. 

I do not consider that the Governor was a public spirited man. He was too 
careful for that. He acted as a safety valve to keep darned fools from 
blowing up the boiler. 

He could accumulate money which he loaned to men who would build up. Few 
men of Beaverhead county who have amounted to anything can say that thhey 
were not helped in some way by B. F. White. He was level-headed, careful, 
not too courageous when it came to loaning money. Many, many men owe this 
man much for the help he has extended them. Big Hole Basin was assisted 
materially by him. 

Sentiment is foreign to his nature. To mix sentiment with business is the 
folly of the fool, because money is needed to conduct the affairs of men, 
not to close the wounds of broken hearts, dry the tears of widows, or feed 
the hungry orphan. Not too good nor too bad -- just a man. 

The time came when B. F. White was appointed to fill the position of 
Territorial Governor by President Harrison. This was just before 
statehood. As he was the last Governor of the territory, he may be 
considered the first Governor of the state, because he was such half a day 
before Governor Toole took his seat. This may be technical, but I guess it 
is the truth. 

Married, February 14, 1879, to Elizabeth Davis, who was born in England, 
to whom four children were born: Carrie, Emrys, Ralph and Greta. 



CHAPTER XX.
ALDER GULCH -- BILL FAIRWEATHER. 

Wm. Fairweather was a peculiar person. He was born in New Brunswick and 
started west at an early age. 

Not enough is known of the early life of this truly remarkable man. He was 
not acquainted with fear. The rattlesnake was, to him, harmless, as in the 
story of Henry Edgar we find the following: "It was jointly through Bill 
Fairweather and Lewis Simmons that we were saved (from the Indians). I 
don't know how it was, but a rattlesnake would not bite Bill. When he saw 
one he would grab it up and carry it for days. They never seemed to resent 
anything he would do to them, and he never killed one. As we were going 
toward this Indian village he picked up a rattlesnake and just at the 
outskirts he picked up another. When the Indians saw him come in with a 
rattlesnake on each arm they were awed. He put the snakes in his shirt 
bosom and Simmons told the Indians that he was the great Medicine Man of 
the whites. 

They took us into their medicine lodge, where there was a big bush in the 
center. They marched us around that bush several times and finally Bill 
said that if they marched him around again he would pull up the sacred 
medicine bush. They marched us around again and Bill pulled up the bush 
and walloper the Medicine Man on the head with it. We then formed three to 
three, back to back. We had refused all along to give up our guns and 
revolvers. The old chief drove the Indians back with a whip. They had a 
council which lasted from noon until midnight. In the morning we got our 
sentence. If we attempted to go on they would kill us. If we would give up 
our horses and go back we would not be harmed." 

As I have mentioned in my "Story of Ajax" the Indians did not take 
Fairweather's horses. There can be but one way to account for this. Bill 
must be crazy! And a crazy man would be under the care of the "Great 
Spirit." Who, but a crazy man, would carry a live rattlesnake or pull up 
the sacred bush and strike the Medicine man? Yes, Bill was Crazy (?), but 
he made if work. 

That Alder was discovered at all was due to the act of this leader, 
because a leader he was, of a pronounced nature. 

As per Marshall's interview we notice the following: 

Thursday evening, April 28, 1875. 

At Douglas' Store saw W. Fairweather and obtained from him full account of 
the discovery of gold in Alder Gulch. A party, Fairweather, T. Cover, H. 
Edgar, B. Hughes, Sweeney, Rodgers, an old mountaineer (who fraternized 
with and remained among the Indians in the Yellowstone) started from Deer 
Lodge, intendizing to prospect some tributary of the Yellowstone. They 
crossed the main range by the Deer Lodge Pass, crossed the Big Hole and 
Beaverhead Rivers, traveled up the Pahsimmeri, struck across the Tobacco 
Root range at the head of Granite Creek, a tributary of Alder, passing 
within four or five miles of the richest and most extensive placer mines 
ever worked in Montana. Went down the Madison, turned east and crossing 
the Gallatin and the range lying between it and the Yellowstone, went down 
the latter stream two days' journey when they encountered a large party of 
Indians who stopped them and for two days detained them while making 
medicine over them to decide their fate, the old warriors being of the 
opinion that they should be turned back, and forbidden to attempt again to 
pass through that region in quest of the precious metals, while the 
younger warriors were for instantly killing them with all the horrors of 
fiendish tortures before, and scalping after death, which always 
distinguished the actions of the real savage Indians of history, though 
unknown to the Indian of poetry and romance, the noble savage of 
Longfellow and Cooper. The medicine proved favorable to the views of the 
older men and the party were turned back and, fearful of pursuit by the 
younger warriors, traveled with little rest until they came out of the 
mountains onto the Madison Valley, opposite the mouth of Wigwam Gulch, and 
recrossing the river and deeming themselves safe from pursuit rested a day 
on Wigwam and prospecting a little discovered a little gold, but not 
enough to pay. They then traveled up Wigwam some distance and crossing by 
the Lakes, discovered the gravel range on the head of Butcher and camping 
there for the night prospected a little but only found a few colors. The 
next morning they started to return to Bannack and coming into Alder Gulch 
near the Toll Gate opposite Fairweather Bar, Fairweather told the others, 
when on the hill, that, "If there wasn't gold there he wouldn't prospect 
another place till they got back to Bannack." When they reached the flat, 
just above the Toll Gate, Fairweather alighted and began to unsaddle. As 
they had only come five miles the others asked what he meant by stopping 
there. He replied that he was going to prospect and finally they called a 
halt and turned out their animals. As they made it a practice never to let 
them get out of their sight, when they had fed down the stream as far as 
Rogers' Bar, Fairweather started down to drive them back. As he returned 
up the creek he was all the time looking to see if he could find any place 
where the rimrock was visible and getting near the camp saw it sticking 
out for some two hundred feet on the bar opposite and since known as the 
Fairweather Bar, and taking a pick, pan and shovel he and Edgar started 
over to prospect the Bar, while the others got dinner ready. F. shoveled 
up a pan of the loose gravel which had crumbled down from the bank and 
Edgar took it down to the creek to wash it, and while he was gone F. 
picked the bare rimrock which is there a loose trap and taking up a piece 
saw it all sprinkled over with gold, and about the same time Edgar, who 
had washed the panful down enough to see the gold, shouted that he had got 
a big prospect, he thought $5 or $6. They washed three pans and returning 
to camp weighed it and found it to be forty-five cents. They had all 
claimed to be dead broke before this, but no sooner was it certain that 
they had discovered paying diggings than all the party, except Edgar and 
Fairweather, began to pull out purses which had before been carefully 
hidden, and declare that they had enough to buy grub when they should 
reach Bannack. They stayed five days and F. panned out $160. 

Interview between F. and Prof. Wm. J. Marshall: 

When he found gold he did not value it. He used to ride up the main street 
of Virginia City and scatter gold dust right and left in the street to see 
the children and Chinamen scramble for it. What he didn't throw away he 
drank up and did not have money enough left to bury himself. 

From 1868 to 1872 he prospected on the Peace River and in Alaska. Never 
contented -- always a wanderer. He died at the age of 39, in 1875, and was 
buried in Virginia on the hill overlooking the stream that gave millions 
to the world. 

Edgar said: "Bill was a fearless man, and an honest man, true to his 
friends and to his word. He never had but one fault, he would drink too 
much whiskey. 

Bill died at Pete Daly's place, the Robbers' Roost. There is an iron fence 
around his grave with a gold plate bearing the following inscription, to-
wit: 

Wm. H. Fairweather, Captain of party who discovered Alder Gulch, May 1863. 

Born at Woodstock Parish, Carlton County, New Brunswick, June 14th, 1836. 

Died, 1875, at Daly's Ranch, Madison County, Montana, August 25th. 



CHAPTER XXI.
ALDER GULCH.
 
As will be remembered, the stampeders, who were following the discoveries 
of Alder, went into a meeting on the Beaverhead River, in order to satisfy 
the boys that their claims, which had been located May 28th, would be 
guaranteed to them. That meet- ing must be considered the first one of the 
miners of Alder Gulch. It was the particular thing that was to help 
establish law and order in the gulch, to those who were willing to be 
governed by common sense, and was the only thing that could be done in 
order to get the information they so much wished -- the destination of 
Hughes party. (This meeting was recorded in a book, once used at Clear 
Creek, Colorado.) So we find that the second meeting came on the 7th day 
of June, 1863, as follows, to-wit: "At a Miners' meeting held at the 
foregoing gold mines on Sunday, June 7th, 1863, Mr. Conley (one of the men 
that discovered gold in Big Hole), was elected President, and Dr. W. L. 
Steele, Secretary, and the following resolutions were passed: 

1st. The center of the stream to be the line.
2nd. All former laws conflicting with the above resolution, be hereby 
declared null and void.
3rd. All claims must be represented today, except discovery claims.
4th. After today claims, represented today, hold good until 1st of July.
5th. A committee of five to be appointed to draft laws for our protection.
6th. That the President appoint the Committee.


The President appointed: 

SAMUEL LIVINGSTON.
WM. L. STEELE.
JUDGE BISSELL.
COL. WOOD.
DR. SICK. 

W. L. STEELE, Secretary. 

"Vernon, June 12th, 1863. 

The adjourned meeting from the 7th of June, met pursuant to adjournment. 
The committee of laws reported, and their report was accepted. The laws 
and resolutions reported were adopted by sections. 

G. W. Emerick and Judge Bissell were elected Judges of Election, and Dr. 
Cox and J(ack) D. Alport were elected Tellers. Laws reported by the 
committee with amendments, as adopted by the meeting. 

Your committee would beg leave to respectfully report the following laws 
for the consideration of the meeting. 

1st. The name of the District shall be Fairweather.
2nd. The bounds of the District shall be all that portion of country 
tributary to this creek, to its junction with a creek, coming in from the 
east, some two or three miles below Rodgers' Bar.
3rd. The officers of this District shall be a President, Recorder, Judge 
and Sheriff.
4th. The President shall preside at all meetings of the miners of this 
District, and shall call a meeting of the citizens of this District, on 
the written application of any five claim holders, giving notice by 
posting written notices one day before said meeting, in at least three 
conspicuous places. The President shall also preside as Judge at all 
trials on appeal, from decision given before the Judge, and shall act as 
Judge, in absence of Judge.
5th. The Recorder shall keep a correct record of the proceedings of all 
meetings, and shall record all claims and deeds presented to him for that 
purpose.
6th. The Judge shall have power to try all cases brought before him, and 
shall be governed by the laws of the District, and the common laws of the 
land.
7th., The Sheriff shall have the same powers as the same office has in the 
States.
8th. We hereby re-affirm the proceedings of the two previous meetings, and 
the doings of those two meetings shall be part and parcel of these laws.
9th. Every person may hold, by pre-emption and purchase, two creek, bar 
hill and lode claims, and no more, but no person can pre-empt more than 
one of each kind, except they be purchased by an administrator -- then any 
person can hold more than that number.
10th. A person working any claim in the District, it shall be considered 
as representing his whole interest in District, if said claims are 
recorded.
11th. Bona fide partners working a claim, represents the interests of the 
entire company.
12th. Discoveries of lode claims shall be entitled to one claim as 
discoverer.
13th. Lode claims shall be 100 feet along the lode, and 25 feet each side.
14th. Sufficient water shall at all times be left in the creek for the 
purpose of mining said creek.
15th. Any person shall have the right to carry water across the claim of 
other persons, for mining purposes.
16th. No person or company shall be entitled to more than one sluice head 
of 10 inches of water, unless it does not conflict with with the interests 
of any other person.
17th. On and after the first day of July, 1863, every person or company, 
shall represent his or their interests by three full days' work, in each 
week, except Lode claims, which may be held as real estate for one year.
18th. In all cases of trial before the President, or Judge, either party 
may call a jury to be summoned by the Sheriff.The party calling for jury, 
to deposit fees for same.
19th. Priority of right shall always govern the decisions of the Court.
20th. For presiding at any trial, the Judge or President shall receive 
$5.00, and the ordering fees for all papers.
21st. Recorders' fees shall be 50c for pre-emption, and one dollar for all 
transfers, bills of sale, etc.
22nd. Sheriff's fees, same as Bannack City fee bill.
23rd. No slaughter house to be allowed within 80 rods of the creek.
Art. 3rd. is amended thus: That all officers shall hold their office for 
six months, or until their successors are elected and installed." 

Whether there were any more laws or not, I do not know, as some curio 
hunter has cut out the next page. 

Dr. Steele was elected President. Henry Eagan, Recorder, and James Fergus, 
Deputy, and all records are in the hands of Fergus. 

The gulch was to become filled with people, from every mining section, and 
probably, no place has ever had such a teeming, thriving crowd, as 
gathered there in two years. Towns were laid out, up and down the gulch, 
for ten miles -- Junction, Adobe Town, Nevada, Central, Verona, Summit, 
and there may have been more -- at least one. The first one to be 
recorded, but of which I can find no old-timer who can remember, was laid 
out as following description: 

"Fairweather District: Idaho Territory, June 15, 1863. 

This is to certify that we, J. C. Lyon, B. S. Peabody, John Bigler, J. M. 
Galbraith, C. P. Hall, B. H. Hamilton, P. C. Wood and Samuel McLean, claim 
160 acres of land for Townsite, to be called and known by the name of 
Placerville. Said quarter section is located on the bar, or bars back of 
the mining claims, owned by Steel and Company, and J. M. Wood's claim. The 
center of which quarter section commences at a ravine or gulch, that 
crosses the road between Wood's and Steele's claims; running from there 
one-half mile up the creek, east, or near it, and one-half mile down the 
creek, or west, and from said stake, onequarter of a mile southwest, and 
three-quarters of a mile north, making a square of one hundred and sixty 
acres. 

To have and to hold for a townsite, and be known by the name of 
Placerville, to have and to hold the same, June 15th, 1863."
Recorded June 17th, 1863. 

And the Verona Townsite Company claims 320 acres of land, for town 
purposes, bounded and described as follows: 

Beginning at a stake at the mouth of Spring Creek, at its confluence with 
Alder Creek, and running thence up the center of Alder Creek, one-quarter 
of a mile; thence at right angles to a straight line, up the creek, in a 
northeasterly direction, one-half mile; thence at right angles in a 
northwesterly direction, one mile; thence at right angles in a 
southwesterly direction one-half mile to the creek; thence up the creek to 
the place of beginning.


F. R. MADISON.
R. H. SAPP.
T. W. COVER, et al.


Recorded June 17th." 

They gave no date in this notice of the time of pre-emption, but it was 
prior to Placerville, which was recorded first. 

Mines. 

On March 5th, 1864, Henry Edgar sold for $7,000.00 his interest in mines 
and ditches, to Cover, Hughes and Fairweather, and on the same day, he 
sold to Cover his interest in butcher shop, corrals and eleven head of 
cattle, for $1,000.00. 

T. W. Cover, H. Edgar, Wm. Fairweather and Barney Hughes, claim 400 feet 
on Fairweather Bar, and 400 feet on Louis Bar, as discovery, and pre-
emption claims. These claims are held by us, by right of original 
discovery. They were further guaranteed to us at a public meeting held on 
the way from Bannack, and our right to them finally sanctioned by law. 

Taken May 28th, 1863. 

Recorded June l7th. 

William Sweeney, one of the original six, claimed the discovery claim on 
Sweeney Bar, and No. 8 below on Covey's Bar, May 28th, 1863, and Henry 
Rodgers claimed two claims on Rodgers' Bar, on May 28th, 1863. 

While many different places bore local names from their discoverers, 
probably no bar became more famous than "Bummer Dan's." This bar was very 
rich and has the appearance of having been more extensively worked than 
any other. How much money was taken from this bar, I do not know. My 
information certainly gives one a chance to use his imagination. One of 
the old timers said $800,000. The other $5,000,000. Dan McFadden, for whom 
the bar was named, was well known as Bummer Dan. He no doubt sponged so 
many meals that the name was well applied. He figures, as the reader will 
remember, in at least one hold up, near Spring Gulch, where the stage was 
robbed. History does not give much account of his character, who could 
have become much more than a bummer, had he saved his money. 

The first quartz claim was the Dumphy, by Liga Dumphy, February 1st, 1864. 
Our old friend, William Sturgis, we find, has become busy, and claimed for 
water privileges, one-quarter of a mile below and three-quarters of a mile 
above the fork of Granite Creek (a stream that run into Alder about two 
and one-half miles below Verona), when he made improvements June 12th, 
1863. 



CHAPTER XXII.
RANCHING. 

And then C. Griswold and W. A. Clark came and claimed 320 acres of land 
for ranching purposes, and described as follows: 

"Commencing at crossing of Granite Creek, thence up said creek one-half 
mile from said crossing, and down one-quarter mile, and running up Alder 
Creek at right angles, with Granite Creek, far enough to include 320 
acres, June 10th, 1863." 

The Stinkingwater District. 

Began at the Big Hole, and ran up the Stinkingwater as far as the Canyon 
on Alder. 

March 19th, 1864, Branstetter and Robert Dempsey took ranches. They were 
located on Stinkingwater (Ruby) near the mouth of Mill Creek. From that 
time on, many more places were taken. Of course, these men, as well as 
others, have squatted on land in that vicinity; as Mr. Chas. Beehrer says 
that Mr. Redfern had located in 1863, on Bevins Gulch, and had raised 
potatoes that year, and sold in Alder Gulch, for $1.00 per pound Redfern 
later planted fruit trees, and was one of the first to raise fruit in 
Southern Montana. 

As early as 1857, Andri Trudeau, a Frenchman, had come to the valley as a 
trapper. Trudeau is living on a ranch about ten miles above Alder, at this 
time. (The rifle that he used is the old-fashioned muzzle loader, and it 
cost him $175.00. It is now in the show window of J. E. Chambers, in 
Virginia City. There has not been any other gun that has been kept in the 
County of madison for so many years. Chambers also has two six shooters 
t!iat were said to have been the property of Jack Gallagher and Club-Foot 
George Lane. One of these is cut off short, and belonged to: Jack.) But 
even before Andri, there had been other trappers, as James Gammel told, 
that he had camped where Virginia City is, on the 12th of January, 1852, 
or eleven years before William Fairweather and party found the first gold. 
Gammel was evidently not a prospector, or he might have found the 
treasure. 

We also know that Jack Slade had taken up a piece of land; in fact, two, 
one on the Madison, which he called "Ravenwood," and one in a gulch, seven 
miles from Virginia, where he was living at the time he was hung, on which 
he built a stone building, which is now in existence. My idea is, that 
Slade must have only used his place for raising or caring for stock. 

We are told that Ray Woodworth was the first man to farm in the Madison 
Valley. John F. Bishop said that he met Ray in Salt Lake, May 1st, 1864, 
and that Ray got up to the ranch early enough to raise vegetables, for 
which be received $4,000.00 that fall in Virginia City. Woodworth also 
raised the first grain in the county, or in Southern Montana, as near as I 
can find out. 



CHAPTER XXIII.
FIRST COURT HOUSE.

The first meeting of County Commissioners of Madison County was April 
22nd, 1864. Present, James Fergus and Frederick Root. Samuel Stanley, 
absent. 

The first business was the appointment of Clerk. R. M. Hagaman was 
appointed, and sworn in. 

There being a vacancy in the Sheriff's Office, Robert C. Knox was 
appointed to fill that position. 

The board proceeded to divide the county into precincts. It was ordered 
that all that portion of Alder Creek, and tributaries, above the upper 
line of Highland District, shall be known as Precinct No. l. And they 
proceeded to form several more, as they were needed, in those days, for 
the convenience of the thousands of men who wished to vote. (Speaking of 
voting in those early days, Mr. Senate, of Sheridan, told me of the 
following occurrence. A Colonel Nelson, whom Mr. Senate thought was the 
late Colonel Nelson, of Kansas City, had made himself so objectionable to 
some of the southerners, that they said he should not vote. The Colonel 
was open to conviction and placed himself in line to cast his vote. He 
found that there was a double line, that extended for some distance from 
the voting place into the street. In order to vote, the Colonel must go 
through this line. As soon as he got nicely started, they began to kick 
him, and continued their sport until he was kicked through the line, and 
past the ballot box, without taking time to vote.) 

The first Justice of the Peace appointed was Clitus Barber. First 
Constable was Neil Howie, who became first Deputy sheriff, and later on 
Sheriff. T. C. Jones was the first Probate Judge. 

Clitus Barber did not qualify. The people of precinct No. 1 petitioned the 
Commissioners for the appointment of Justice of the Peace, and Constable. 
W. A. Shroyer was appointed Justice of the Peace, and Dave McCranor, 
constable. The first bill presented for payment was board for Culberson 
and M. Gary, confined in County Jail, for $84.24. Allowed. 

First Court House. 

The Commissioners signed articles of agreement with W. F. Sanders for the 
rent of said. Sanders' house, on Idaho street, for one year, to be used as 
a Court House, and to be paid quarterly, in advance, at the rate of $1,
200.00 per year. Said agreement filed with Clerk, and said payments to be 
made in orders on the County Treasurer. 

June 7th, 1864. 

We find a letter from W. C. Rheem, of June 7th, 1864, District Attorney of 
Third Judicial District, that Dr. Smith had been appointed County Clerk, 
and qualified, but that his continued absence had caused a vacancy, which 
had been filled as above stated, by the appointment of Hagaman. This 
letter had been written to the Commissioners, as advice, because it 
appears that Smith had come back, and desired to oust Hagaman. 

On June 19th, 1864, N. J. Bean, the first assessor of Madison County, 
resigned on account of ill health. He had been appointed by the Governor, 
and from that, we must assume that all of the Territorial officers were 
appointed in that way. J. J. Hull was appointed to fill Bean's place. 

Sealed proposals for building county jail [Note: James H. Morley's diary 
says July 16, 1864, a collector came up the Gulch to "stick" us for $4.00 
for money for a $5,000 jail.] were opened June 21st, 1864. Following are 
the bids and bidders: 

M. D. Leadbater $4,475.00
R. C. Knox $4.767.00
R. M. McKinney R J. W. Wilson $8,500.00
Z. M. Dumphy $4,674.00
Griffeth R Thompson $5,800.00


Mr. Leadbater failing to appear and. give surety, for building of the 
jail, the contract was awarded to E. M. Dumphy, for the sum of $4,674.00, 
to be paid out of the first moneys that came into the County Treasury, not 
otherwise appropriated. 

N. J. Davis was Treasurer of Madison County, in those days. 

On August 18th, the jail was accepted as far as completed. They, on that 
date, agreed to allow Dumphy $5,000.00 in all, the extra money for a few 
extra things, and did pay him $8,500.00, and had paid him before $1,
000.00. 

J. L. Corbett was appointed first County Surveyor, and in 1865, Jesse 
Armitage was the County Assessor. 

We find that May 7th, 1866, B. Cantrell became a County charge, and was 
allowed $20.00 per week for his support. 

The first matter for probate was the petition of Maria V. Slade, on April 
14th, 1864, for the probating of the will of J. A. Slade. Mrs. Slade did 
not appear, having left the Territory, taking the will with her and 
probably $7,000.00 or $8,000.00 in valuables. 

The second matter was the estate of John White, the discoverer of 
Grasshopper, April 29th, 1864. 

Henry Coppock, being duly sworn, deposes and said: I know John White, by 
sight. I went with Mr. Temple to White Tail Deer Creek, to bring his body 
to Virginia City, for burial. We found the body, he had died from effect 
of wounds. We brought his body from where we found it, to my camping 
place, and kept it there about four days. I saw his body searched for 
papers, and other things. No will was found on his person, and no property 
of any value, or money. 

John Temple, sworn and says: I was well acquainted with John White in his 
lifetime. I saw him at Virginia City, about the first of February, last. 
After I heard of his death, I went with Coppock to bring in his body for 
burial -- found the body and recognized it. While at Virginia City, he 
boarded, and was out prospecting, at the time of his death. I don't think 
he left a will. If he had, I should have known it. I understand he was a 
married man, but don't know them (presumably the family). 

John M. Fletcher sworn and says: I was well acquainted with John White for 
the last four years. He had a wife and child living in Illinois. The child 
is about five years old. He had, at the time of his death, two horses. He 
had a one-third interest in a mining claim, in Bannack. I should say his 
interest was worth $100.00. I heard him say he also had a quartz lode in 
Bannack. He had no relatives in this country, or part of the country. The 
horses are worth $75.00 each. He owned lode claims in Colorado, in Park 
county. Don't know what they are worth. Know of no other property. 

This rung the curtain down on the last act of John White, the man to put 
the Montana miners before the people, in such a light that they became 
known to so many, that other hardy fellows cast their lots with the early 
prospectors, and helped to form the Treasure State. We can't predict what 
White might have become, had he not been murdered on White Tail. 

It is evident that Mrs. Slade came back to Montana, as we find the 
following: 

This is to certify that the undersigned, Chief Justice of the Territory of 
Montana, did, on the evening of the 22nd of March, 1865, at Virginia City, 
in said Territory, unite in marriage, James H. Kiskaddan and Maria V. 
Slade, with their mutual consent, in presence of Annie Stanley and Oliver 
Sweet. 

H. S. HOSMER. 

This man James Kiskaddan was somewhat of a dreamer, as the following 
matter shows E. P. Lewis, James Kiskaddan and Wm. Chumasero, on the 24th 
day of December, 1864, incorporated the Missouri River Portage Co. Object 
was to build a wagon road and eventually, a railroad, "commencing at a 
stake now standing near the mouth of Highwood Creek, below the Great 
Missouri Falls, and running around said falls, to another stake, just 
above said falls. The distance from stake to stake being about 12 miles. 
To charge such tolls upon said road as may be agreed upon, by above named 
corporation, etc., etc. Capital stock shall be $500,000.00, 5,000 shares, 
of the value of $100.00 each. Time of existence of said company shall be 
fifty years. Principal place of business, shall be Virginia City, Madison 
County, Montana." 

These men felt that there was a possibility of navigating the upper water 
of the Missouri, anyway, as far as Three Forks, as a city had been laid 
out by such men as Gov. Hauser the year before, on the Gallatin. They did 
not take into consideration, that the capital would be taken from 
Virginia, and that Last Chance Gulch would be found before another year 
should pass. They could not know that the navigation of the Missouri was 
only an idea that had entered the minds of Lewis and Clark, for lack of 
knowledge of conditions that would arise at a future time -- when they 
themselves had been asleep for years. 

Lewis Kiskaddan and Chumasero, played their parts, and lived in "Day 
dreams" of a greater state of Montana, which they would help establish. 
Chumasero did live to see the falsity of his expectations, and did help to 
build up Montana, not in poor old Virginia, but in the new camp, on Last 
Chance Gulch, Kiskaddan returned soon after his marriage, to Salt Lake, 
and probably used some of his ability there. I can find no trace of Lewis. 

[Note: There are people in Montana who will tell you that Maud Adams, the 
great actress, is the daughter of James Kiskaddan. If she is, she is not 
the daughter of Mrs. Slade. My information as to Mrs. Slade's ultimate end 
leads me to believe that she must have become divorced from Kiskaddan and 
ended her life in Chicago, in quest of pleasure of a forbidden nature.]